The Harvard Art Museums present Prints and the Pursuit of Knowledge in
Early Modern Europe, an exhibition that examines how celebrated Northern
Renaissance artists contributed to the scientific discoveries of the
16th century. This exhibition and the accompanying catalogue offer a new
perspective on the collaboration between artists and scientists: the
project challenges the perception of artists as illustrators in the
service of scientists, and examines how their printmaking skills were
useful to scientists in their investigations. Artists’ early printed
images served as effective research tools, not only functioning as
descriptive illustrations, but also operating as active agents in the
creation and dissemination of knowledge. Taking into consideration
prints, books, maps, and such scientific instruments as sundials,
globes, astrolabes, and armillary spheres, this project looks at
relationships between their producers and their production, as well as
between the objects themselves.

Prints and the Pursuit of Knowledge in Early Modern Europe will be on
display at the Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum from
September 6 to December 10, 2011, and then travel to the Mary and Leigh
Block Museum of Art (at Northwestern University), where it will be on
view from January 17 to April 8, 2012. The exhibition is curated by
Susan Dackerman, Carl A. Weyerhaeuser Curator of Prints, Division of
European and American Art, Harvard Art Museums. Dackerman is also Head
of Student Affairs at the Art Museums.
For complete information, please view the announcement in the Press
section of the Art Museums’ website at: http://www.harvardartmuseums.org/about/press/.